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Merida was sitting at the counter in this dimly lit, half-empty bar and mused to herself if anything was going to happen here. It was late evening. The bar wasn't very popular among the townsfolk, due to the fact that it was located outside of the town, on the highway, and this highway wasn't popular either, since it led to this, once again, quite unpopular small town. It was literally in the middle of nowhere, and Merida felt as if the time decided to stop here entirely.
She ordered another beer. Why would she even live here? Apart from cheep housing and the significant distance from her family, there wasn't any benefits left. But she felt here at home. She could wander the empty streets at night and stop by all those quiet bars, where no one would try to question her and her choices. She could be left at peace here.
Sometimes, though, Merida really wanted to be asked all those questions. No one here was interested in her, and it annoyed her. She thought, tiredly, if there was going to be anything of change tonight. But nothing seemed to happen, and she ordered another beer. What's the point of it, if no one cares?
The quiet sound of a jukebox, playing some new AC/DC stuff, the murmur of people chatting at their tables and the booze she had drank made her world sway a little, and she closed her eyes. "I could just fall asleep now, y'know," she thought to herself, but this course of thoughts was interrupted by the rumble of a bike outside.
The door opened, and a guy approached the counter.
"One beer, please," he said.
"I wouldn't order it here," said Merida, half laying on a counter, "this beer is shite".
"That's why you drink it?"
Merida looked at the guy.
"A biker?" she asked.
"Well, yes. How did you know?"
"You guys are always wearing leather," she pointed out. The guy chuckled.
Indeed, he was wearing leather: a coat, pants, boots. His hair was absolutely disheveled and he looked weary from the road. Apparently, he was travelling for some time, because his chin looked like a razor hadn't touched it for a week straight. Also, the guy smelled of tobacco and gasoline.
"How did you end up here?" Merida tried to start a conversation.
The guy took a sip from his mug and looked at her.
"Me? I'm more interested in how YOU ended up here"
"What is it?"
The guy awkwardly looked away. "It's a very lame attempt at flirting, sorry".
"Flirting?" Merida raised her brows.
"Really, nevermind. You looked so sad and i thought that it could cheer you up. A bit".
"Ah, i see. No, it's ok. It's just... i forgot when was the last time i was flirted with. These people are strangely ignorant to everyone. I couldn't even make any friends here," she turned to look at the bar's customers. Everyone was sitting at their tables, and the cigarette smoke obscured all the features, leaving only the silhouettes visible.
"Eery," concluded the guy, following her gaze. "No, but really, how did you end up here then?"
Merida frowned. "A spoiled child thinks that she's too restricted by her family and runs away just for the sake of running".
"It's... an exhaustive description. But there is time when you just have to run away to start a life of your own, away from your family. It's only natural".
"No, you don't understand".
"If you're torn by guilt, return to them. At least you'll be at peace with yourself".
"Oh, no. No. I'd like to hide away".
"Hiding? Sometimes when you want to hide, in actuality you want to be found. Well, at least that's what i've read once. In a book". He looked away.
"I like where this conversation is going so far", laughed Merida. "I'm half-drunk, talking about some deep matters with a complete stranger in a bar. What can possibly be wrong?"
The guy laughed as well. "You may be drunk, but i'm extremely tired, also hungry, hence can speek only about said deep matters. Don't worry, when i leave this place, i'll forget everything you are telling me now. We're strangers, after all," his green eyes locked with Merida's.
"Aye, strangers," she agreed, while maintaining visual contact with him.
"Also, this beer really tastes like shit". The guy looked at his mug, now empty. "You were right".
"Did you really drink it?" asked Merida.
"I mean, what choice did i have? But i certainly won't order another one".
"You have to order something to stay here, you know?" Merida said with a bit of sadness in her voice. She quite liked the way she was able to talk to a person that freely.
"Then what do they have here? You seem like a person who knows this bar..."
"So, i look like an alcoholic to you," she summed it up.
"No, of course..."
She interrupted him. "No, that's right, i do come here frequently".
"That's a bad habit".
"That's a good hobby," Merida said. "Anyway, they don't have another sort of beer, and all what's left is just stronger booze".
"I'll pass. I need to be able to ride". The guy sighed and said to the barman, "One more, please".
Merida chuckled. "So, you're travelling, right?"
"Mmhm," he admitted.
"Running away as well?"
"Nah, just moving cross-country. But... running away? Quite possible, in a way". He waved his hand. "Running away from a hostile place hoping to find a place where you could be, well... loved. Or something like that".
"Maybe i should do this too". Merida was exploring the insides of her empty mug and her voice sounded echoey and - possibly - sad.
There was a pause after that. Merida looked at the guy without turning her head, eyes half-closed. "Too thin for my liking," she thought. "I'm probably two times wider than him... But he's not bad at all. Oh girl, aren't you pathetic, inspecting a man you see for the first time in your life like that".
"Loneliness does terrible things to people," she muttered to herself.
"True," the guy replied.
"What? Ah, you heard me. I was just talking to myself, actually".
"No, i mean, we can discuss it as well. This topic," he suddenly became more quiet, "this topic does hit close to home. Also, where else to talk about it if not in a bar with an intoxicated girl?"
"Sorry, i lost it. Intoxicating?"
"No, you heard me wrong, it's intoxicated. But actually, you know what? I take my words back, in fact it was intoxicating, yes".
"Flirting again?"
"Just some light-hearted fun, nothing more, don't worry".
"I don't mind it, to be honest", said Merida, smiling to herself. "It's nice to hear. Maybe i should start responding with same, don't you think?"
"No, don't think so. Girls don't flirt with me, so i can just take it as it is and fall in love, and we don't want it here", he laughed.
"Have you never considered the possibility that i'm not used to it as well? I could fall in love from your flirting, too".
"Could you?" he asked, the tone of his voice slightly changed. Merida noticed this and the tips of her ears burned.
"You're a horrible drinker," she concluded. "Just two beers and you're ready".
"Ooof," he said, "maybe i am".
She tried to change the topic.
"So, you're travelling, right?" The guy nodded. "Where are you going then?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, i don't know yet".
"What do you mean?"
"At the moment i'm just... riding my bike along all those highways, watching people doing their things. Like, have you ever thought that each person you meet on the street has their own life, filled to the brim with conplexity? For example, that guy," he pointed at the man in the right corner of the room, "he might have a wife and children, but since he gets drunk every day in this very bar, his marriage is falling apart and he sits here until the bar closes so that he could not go home for as long as possible. And when he arrives home, he gets a monstrous scolding".
"You're wrong, actually," said Merida. "This is a local butcher and he's completely alone. Your imagination is just too..."
"Maybe, but my point still stands".
"Right. But anyway, where are you going? You have to have some sort of destination".
"I said, i'm going nowhere. And anywhere at the same time".
"Sounds like you want to get lost".
"Not really. I just... i just want to be found," he sighed. "Well, this requires getting lost, though".
Merida looked at him. "We might be not that different after all".
"Aaaand we're back at the topic," the guy returned her gaze.
"By the way," Merida said, as if she didn't hear his last words, "it's well past midnight now. And you're going to drive that late? What about sleep? You can rent a room in the motel nearby".
"I will think about it". The guy raised his brows and ordered another beer.
She started to like him. There was something really captivating about him, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Was it the tone of his voice? Maybe the look, soft and calm? Merida thought of bikers as of loud, drunk and obnoxious, but this particular guy wasn't like this at all, and she liked it.
Also she felt very sleepy. The bar ambience acted like a lullaby. She moved her mug aside and closed her eyes.
Suddenly she felt her face being hit with something hard.
"Woah, wake up!" The guy lifted her from the counter and sat her upright. "How are you?"
Merida rubbed her eyes. "I... i might have overestimated myself. I guess, it's bedtime".
"You really should go home and sleep, you know".
Merida paused for a bit, then opened her bad, took a paper napkin and and eyeliner and started to scribble something.
"What is it?" asked the guy, curiously watching her.
"Here. It's my number," she gave him the paper. "And my name is Merida, by the way".
"Merida," repeated the guy to himself. "A beautiful name for a beautiful girl. Although you can't say the same about mine".
"And what's it?"
"Hiccup. It's a nickname though".
"Ooof. Any real names in posession?"
Hiccup made mysterious eyes. "It's a secret".
"Can i... crack this secret one day?"
"Are you asking for a permission or a possibility?" he laughed.
Merida laughed as well and stood up from her place. Immediately she was about to fell, but Hiccup held her.
"Your hand is on my waist," she said, still smiling. "No, it's okay, actually".
"Do you need a lift home? It would be a long walk to the nearest town, if you live there", he asked her quietly. He, though, removed his hand from Merida's back.
"It would be nice".
They paid for their drinks and ventured into the night. Hiccup went first, allowing Merida to stare at him freely. She lowered her eyes.
"A prosthetic!" she said suddenly. "How do you ride with it?"
"I modified my bike to accomodate it," he explained.
"Ah, i see".
"Wow, you're not being weird about this".
Hiccup mounted the bike and invited Merida to sit behind. After she sat there and put on a helmet that he gave her, he started the bike and rapidly took off up the deserted highway. Merida had to hold tight, pressing herself into his back.
"You're quite a racer!"
He held her hand for a bit. "Don't sleep there, alright?"
The speed was high enough to make Merida produce adrenaline, and this helped her not to fall asleep while they were riding. When they approached the town, Hiccup navigated its narrow streets according to Merida's directions, and the ride came to an end, when they arrived at the building she was living in.
"We've arrived", he said.
Merida stumbled to the door and turned to him. "Have you decided where you'll stay for the night?"
"I'll take your advice about the motel, i saw it on the way".
"So everything settled then?"
"I guess so," he smiled.
"Then... it's goodnight, Hiccup boy". She opened her door. "Maybe, we are found after all. And by the way, if you don't phone me tomorrow morning, i'll be very disappointed!"
"I promise," he said seriously. "Goodnight, m'lady".
And he disappeared into the night.